Trial of Kanchi seers in Shankararaman murder starts Feb 26

Puducherry, Jan 9 (IANS) The trial of the two Kanchi Shankaracharyas (seers) and 24 others in the Shankararaman murder case will begin Feb 26, a local court Friday announced. Special Sessions Judge Krishnaraja made the announcement in the presence of 22 accused. The Shankaracharyas had applied for exemption from personal appearance and were not present in court Friday.

The first session will last two days, the judge added.

The judge had framed 14 charges against senior seer Jayendra Saraswati and Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati, the junior, including conspiracy to murder, providing funds for the crime and abetment.

The two heads of the Kanchi monastery are the prime accused in the murder of Shankararaman, managing trustee of the Varadaraja Perumal temple, at Kanchipuram Sep 3, 2004.

The Shankaracharyas were arrested later that year for allegedly masterminding the murder and were briefly imprisoned before being set free on bail on orders of the Supreme Court.

Following an appeal from the seers, the case was transferred from Tamil Nadu to the Union Territory of Puducherry.